Teacher charged with soliciting minor for sex

ST. PAUL — A Minneapolis middle school teacher was charged Thursday with posting an online ad looking for sex with high school girls and then driving to meet someone he believed was a 14-year-old girl.

But Joel Fowler, 23, actually was meeting up with a St. Paul police sergeant posing as the girl, the charges said.

Fowler, of St. Louis Park, faces two felony counts, including soliciting a child through electronic communication.

Fowler called in sick and was arrested Tuesday when he drove to Cherokee Park in St. Paul to meet up with the girl, the Star Tribune reported. He allegedly was carrying condoms in his pockets.

Fowler is a seventh grade social studies teacher for Olson Middle School. He earned his teaching license a year ago.

Minneapolis Public Schools say Fowler has been placed on administrative leave.

According to the complaint, the police sergeant was conducting an undercover investigation and reviewed Craigslist's "casual encounters" personal ads, which can be posted at no cost. The sergeant searched for "high school" in the personals section and found the ad allegedly written by Fowler. It included a photo of four young women in graduation caps.

"It's graduation season," the ad said, according to charges. "I'm looking for a soon-to-be or recent high school graduate who wants to play with a just out of college guy."

The sergeant responded to the ad, telling Fowler she was 14 years old. The sergeant and Fowler traded messages before agreeing to meet at the park to have sex, the charges said.

"Send me a pic," Fowler allegedly wrote to the sergeant.

When he was arrested, Fowler told police he was meeting someone he met online but denied knowing the person's age, the charges said. He also allegedly denied seeing a picture of the girl, but later admitted he knew the girl was 14. The police sergeant had earlier sent Fowler an age-regressed photo of a female officer. Fowler allegedly responded by sending a picture of a naked male torso from the waist up.

"He didn't know if she was lying about her age, and said that if he saw her he could back out of it," the complaint said.

Fowler remained in jail Thursday, with bail set at $10,000. His next court appearance is scheduled for June 12. An attorney who appeared with Fowler in court Thursday did not immediately reply to messages for comment.